Debates of 23 Mar 2021

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 11:11 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:11 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:11 a.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 3, Correction of Votes and Proceedings and the Official Report.
Hon Members, the Votes and Proceedings of Monday, 22nd March,
2021.
rose
Mr Speaker 11:11 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Ziedeng 11:11 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it does appear that we do not have a quorum. A cursory glance at the numbers in the Chamber clearly shows that we do not have a quorum both on the Majority side and the Minority side.
So, Mr Speaker, I am coming under Standing Order 48, which says, and I beg to read:
“The presence of at least one- third of all Members of Parliament besides the person presiding shall be necessary to constitute a quorum of the House.”
Mr Speaker 11:11 a.m.
Hon Members, a Member has taken notice of the number of Hon Members present in the Chamber and has raised an objection in terms of Standing Order 48 (1). Now when you read Standing Order 48(2), it says:
“If at the time of sitting, a Member takes notice or objection that there are present in the House, besides the person presiding, less than one-third of the number of all the Members of Parliament, and after an interval of ten minutes a quorum is not present, the person presiding shall adjourn the House without Question put until the next sitting day.”
So, I would direct that the bell as usual be rang because we have 10 minutes interval to make up for the loss in numbers. If after the 10
minutes, we do not get the one-third quorum, I have no option than to comply by the terms of the Standing Orders which says:
“… the person presiding shall adjourn the House without Question put until the next sitting day.”
So, please, Marshal, ensure that the bell is rang and we have 10 minutes to make up for the loss in numbers. In the meantime, Hon Members, we would proceed with the work of the House.
rose
Mr Speaker 11:21 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minister for Defence?
Mr Nitiwul 11:21 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I know a ruling has been made, but I would want to passionately appeal that we may have to revisit that ruling. I know that Speakers have taken the position that if one is not physically present, even when he or she is within the precincts of Parliament and attending to Committee meetings, he or she is marked absent. It is part of the problems we face now.
This is because I have been marked absent.
But the whole of yesterday, I was in Parliament attending to the invitation of the Committee on Defence and the Interior to consider the Estimates of the Ministry of Defence, but I have been marked absent. I understand because of the ruling that was given; I could not come here to do that. We started the Committee meeting around 9.30 a.m., and I could not get up because I had to be there throughout and we closed after 3.00 p.m. when the House had adjourned.
Mr Speaker, it is the problem that we now face. So many committees are sitting in Parliament. If the Whips are able to get the Chairmen to suspend what the committees are doing, they will be here and the Chamber will be full, but to what end?
Mr Speaker, I know that the Hon Member has the right to observe and raise issues of quorum, but to what end? What we will end up doing is that committees will not work. If the Whips get the Chairmen of Committees to suspend, there will be quorum, but at any time that the Committees decide to go back, we would not have quorum at the committee again. So, I think that to resolve this problem, we would have to look at the ruling again.

Otherwise, at a time that Hon Members will be at Committee meeting, specifically to be doing the work, when Parliament has to rise, especially with the time constraint that we have, we would still have the same problem of Hon Members coming to sit in the Chamber throughout till maybe, 3.00 p.m. Maybe, leadership may have to find a way of resolving this problem before it becomes a big one.
rose
Mr Speaker 11:21 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 11:21 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my attention has been drawn to the fact that one of our Hon Colleagues, Hon Bede Ziedeng has raised a matter of quorum.
Mr Speaker, probably, as Leaders, we have a duty to support you in the governance of the House. This morning, the reason you did not see me at conclave was because a meeting was scheduled for the consideration of constitutional bodies Budget Estimates. I had to stand on his behalf together with about 12 or 14 Hon Members to hear the Estimates for the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) --
Even as I speak, Hon Members are already seated waiting for me on the Budget Estimate of the Audit Service. But once I saw you entering, I had to come and formally announce my presence.
Mr Speaker, yes it is our rule. But in these times, knowing that we are considering Budget Estimates and many of the Committees schedule meetings from 9.00 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., we have failed. We should have come to you so that you hold on until 12 noon before the House Sits. So, we erred and not you. So, once we did not engage you and the Hon Member has moved it, Mr Speaker, I can assure you that there are many Hon Members within the precinct who are conducting the business of Parliament with the hearing of the Budget Estimates. If we suspend Sitting for 30 minutes or an hour, probably, many of them may be able to join us.
Mr Speaker 11:21 a.m.
Hon Members, I said we would move on for 10 minutes. If we are unable to get the quorum, I would abide by the tenets of the Standing Orders.
The earlier rulings of past Speakers still stand. Attendance at the Committee meeting does not constitute attendance to Parliament.
The Hon Member has to come to Floor and be recognised and noted as having attended the proceedings and then you can proceed to your committee meetings. So, that is still the state of the law, and I would go by that. So, we will proceed with the business for the next 10 minutes, and I am sure by then, we would get the quorum. If we are unable to get the quorum, the House will automatically adjourn without the Question being put.
So please, the Whips should do their work. They should get the Hon Members from the committee meetings to come to plenary and then after that you are entitled to go and consider the Budget Estimates on the various sectors. That is what our Standing Orders say and I cannot rule otherwise.
Mr Speaker 11:21 a.m.
Page 1…7 --
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa -- rose --
Mr Speaker 11:21 a.m.
Yes, Hon Ablakwa?
Mr Ablakwa 11:21 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am most grateful. On page 7, item numbered 3, we have consistently
drawn the attention of the Table Office that our Hon Colleague, Hon Dr Augustine Tawiah is absent with permission. So, if the records would be corrected accordingly?
Mr Speaker 11:21 a.m.
Hon Member, we would cross-check to see whether it has been renewed, because it was for a specific period. We know the state in which he is and so the Leadership would have to look at it and repeat the application for leave, so that it can be renewed. If not, it has elapsed. It was for a period; it was not everlasting.
Hon Members, page 8, 9 --
Mr Ablakwa 11:21 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in the last line of the fourth paragraph of item numbered 6 on page 9, the word “article” is missing; “article 124 (2) of the 1992 Constitution.”
Mr Speaker 11:21 a.m.
Table Office, take note?
Page 10, 11, 12 --
Rev John Ntim Fordjour -- rose --
Mr Speaker 11:21 a.m.
Yes, Hon Fordjour?
Rev Fordjour: Mr Speaker, I thank you
Mr Speaker 11:21 a.m.


[REV FORDJOUR] [MR SPEAKER]

On page 12, item numbered 4, under paragraph 2, my surname has been spelt wrongly. The right rendition is on page 8, item numbered 18.
Mr Speaker 11:21 a.m.
Table Office, take note, item numbered 2 (iv), “Forjour” has been wrongly spelt.
Hon Members, page 13 --
Mr Ablakwa 11:21 a.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered (xx), our colleague at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration's name is “Mr Joshua Dwamena-Agyekum”, so it should be captured accurately.
Mr Speaker 11:31 a.m.
Table Office, kindly take note.
Hon Members, page 14, 15…18.
An Hon Member 11:31 a.m.
Mr Speaker, sorry to take you back a bit to page number 10.
Mr Speaker 11:31 a.m.
Hon Member, kindly approach the Table Office with that correction.
Hon Members, the Votes and Proceedings of the Twenty-Eighth Sitting of the First Meeting of the First Session, held on Monday, 22nd
March, 2021, as corrected is adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Hon Members, I have a copy of the Official Report of Tuesday, 9th February, 2021, and Tuesday, 2nd March, 2021 for correction. We would start with the Official Report of Tuesday, 9th February, 2021.
Hon Members, any corrections?
Mr Samuel O. Ablakwa 11:31 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not know about my Hon Colleagues, but I saw only the Official Report of 9th February, 2021, in my pigeon hole. However, I note that at column 007 of the Official Report of 9th February, 2021, in the first paragraph, the last line, there is a sentence that reads: “…We have had Lieutenant General J. B. Danquah served in that role…” However, instead of the use of the word “served”, it should rather be captured as “…serve in that role…” This has to do with the first paragraph of column 007, the last line.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Speaker 11:31 a.m.
Table Office, I am sure that you have got the correction? The word “served” should not be in the past tense, but it should be in present tense- “serve”.
Hon Members, any other correction?
Hon Members, the Official Report of Tuesday, 9th February, 2021 as corrected, represents the true record of proceedings.
Hon Members, I am informed by the Hon Ablakwa that Hon Members do not have copies of the Official Report of Tuesday, 2nd March, 2021. Is that the case? [Interruption] -- Do you have it?
Hon Members, any correction on the Official Report of 2nd March,
2021?
[No correction was made to the Official Report of Tuesday, 2nd March, 2021].
Mr Speaker 11:31 a.m.
Hon Members, we would move on to the item numbered 5 on today's Order Paper. At the Commencement of Public Business, the item numbered 5?
Yes, Hon Majority Chief Whip?
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh 11:31 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to appeal to you if we could take item numbered 6(b) instead of item numbered 5 as directed by your good self?
Mr Speaker 11:31 a.m.
Hon Member, what is the reason for that? Why should I vary the order of Business and move from the item numbered 3 to item numbered 6(b), instead of item numbered 5?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:31 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have engaged the Leadership, and we have come to some agreement that we should rather take the item numbered 6(b) as the first item for the day. So, it is a collective decision from the Leadership.
Mr Speaker 11:31 a.m.
Well, I am guided by Leadership, but item numbered 5 is also ready for laying, but we would take the laying of item numbered 6, then we would come back to the item numbered 5. There is no problem, we just need to have the quorum and proceed with Business.
Hon Members, we would take the item numbered 6(b) -- Presentation of Papers, by the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Roads and Transport.
PAPERS 11:31 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:31 a.m.
Hon Members, I cannot see the Hon Chairman of the Committee. Hon Member, there is a time for bowing, so, when the time comes -- I looked round to see the Hon Chairman stand and bow, but I did not see that.
Hon Members, the Report has been laid accordingly, and it is for distribution to Hon Members of the House.
Yes, Hon available Leader, which other one should we take? Can I go back to the item numbered 5 now?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:31 a.m.
Mr Speaker, again with your kindness, if you may permit, we should take the Motion numbered 9 on page 8 of today's Order Paper.
Mr Speaker 11:31 a.m.
Hon Members, let us take the laying of the petitions, and then from there, we can go on to the Motions.
Hon Members, we would take the item numbered 5 -- Presentation of Petitions. We would take the item numbered 5(a), which is by the Hon Member for Bawku Central, the Hon Mahama Ayariga.
Mr Mahama Ayariga 11:41 a.m.
Mr Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 76 of our Standing Orders, I present a petition on behalf of Prince Kofi Amoabeng. Mr Speaker, with your kind permission, I wish to lay the petition at the Table.
PETITIONS 11:41 a.m.
Mr Patrick Yaw Boamah 11:41 a.m.
Mr Speaker, may I refer you to Standing Order 75(2) and 93(1)?
Mr Speaker 11:41 a.m.
Hon Member, Standing Order 75 deals with Papers. What we are talking about is petition. They are not the same.
Mr Boamah 11:41 a.m.
Then I will hold my horses. I thought he was presenting a Paper? I did not hear “petition”.
Mr Speaker 11:41 a.m.
It is a petition.
Mr Boamah 11:41 a.m.
Then I will come back when you get to Papers.
Mr Speaker 11:41 a.m.
You will come back properly.
Mr Boamah 11:41 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I will come back after he has finished reading those petitions, and ask you to consider -- Mr Speaker, may I be guided if he has finished reading those petitions as contained in item numbered 5 in today's Order Paper? -- whether the Clerks-at-the-Table have finished reading those petitions?
Mr Speaker 11:41 a.m.
Hon Member, please, kindly read Standing Order 76 properly. What the Hon Member opted to do was to go under Standing Order 76(1), where the petition is brought to the Table by the direction of the Speaker. He has not moved a Motion. He just laid a petition. I will now proceed to tell the House how we would handle the petition. Do we set up a committee to go through it and report to the House? Then, a Motion would be moved, and the consideration would begin from there.
For now, a citizen has a concern and he thinks that he should petition Parliament, and that is what he has done. When, by our rules, a citizen is to petition Parliament, it must be done through an Hon Member of Parliament (MP). When it goes through an Hon MP, he has two options: to come through the direction of the Speaker and lay it or after the admission of the Speaker, to go through the process of a Motion. Hon Ayariga opted for Standing Order
76(1).
I will now put the Question before you as to how we should handle that petition. Do we set up a Committee to go through it and report to the House for consideration? Our rules are quite scanty on that, and we have to work out the process and
Mr Boamah 11:41 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I respect, and would always abide by your guidance. Mr Speaker, especially when that particular matter is a subject of litigation in court which everybody knows about. That is my only worry, so that it does not become a backdoor --
Mr Speaker 11:41 a.m.
Hon Member, that is Standing Order 93, and that is when it comes for a debate. It is not for the Speaker to be a jury and a judge at the same time. The Speaker does not take the decisions in the House; it is the House that does. When we get to that stage and you look at the part under which Standing Order 93 falls, it has nothing to do with admission of Papers, petitions or Statements; it deals with the proceedings on the floor of the House. When we get there and the issues are raised, the Chair would be in a better position to rule on that.
Hon Members, in the circumstances, I propose that we set up a Committee to go into the petition and then report to the House. The House would then have the
opportunity to deliberate on it, because the report of the Committee would come in the form of a Motion which we can debate. If at the end of the day, we get the sense that there is a matter pending, we would be guided by the content of the speeches that Hon Members would make on the Floor and that is the time that we can now apply Order 93 of the Standing Orders. I am very clear in my mind about this.
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh 11:41 a.m.
Mr Speaker, first of all, I wish to refresh your memory. Yesterday at conclave, I recalled that this matter was raised by the Hon Deputy Minority Whip, Mr Ahmed Ibrahim. He sought to bring the same matter to your notice that in the face of the nature of the petition --
Mr Speaker 11:41 a.m.
Hon Member, am I out of order?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:41 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with the greatest of respect, you cannot be out of order. I am just reminding you of the engagement we had --
Mr Speaker 11:41 a.m.
I have put the proposal before you. I am aware of whatever happened in conclave. It has nothing to do with admission by the Speaker of Papers and petitions. It has everything to do with the debate.
The Speaker cannot guillotine submission of Papers and petitions. My discretion does not extend to that. You can read the constitutional provision in article 296 of the 1992 Constitution and our Standing Orders. I do not have that power. It is when it comes before you and during deliberation that you have concerns about Standing Order 93 or whatever, you could raise it. As at now, I cannot prevent people from brining petitions. That is now what our rules permit.
I have made a proposal for us to establish a Committee to go into the petition and report back to the House. That is the matter now on the table for discussion.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:51 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not seek to impede the progress of the work of the House, or challenge your authority. Mr Speaker, if you had let me conclude my statement -- what I sought to do was merely to refresh your memory, relating to engagements Leadership had with you at conclave where Hon Ahmed Ibrahim suggested that Leadership engages on this matter further before we go into it. Mr Speaker, with the greatest of respect, I am only refreshing your memory.
Mr Speaker 11:51 a.m.
My memory is fresh and you do not need to refresh it. [Laughter] Hon Majority Chief Whip, my memory is fresh so you do not need to freshen it. I allowed this matter to be in the hands of Leadership for a long time. I have not heard -- I know the Hon Majority Leader is busy with other business in addition to this, but this matter came up at conclave and I referred it to Leadership.
I have not heard anything and we need to move on. Since the deliberation on the matter is not today, it is for the House to go and consider and report. I think that we should put the process in place and then when we get there, as a House, we would take the decision. So, please, let us establish the Committee and I propose a Committee of about seven to go into the matter. Once again, Leadership, you are critical in the formation of the Committee.
This is the challenge we have with our Standing Orders and since we are masters of our own procedure, we can together carve out and craft a suitable procedure to handle these matters. As I said, the new Standing Orders is trying to take care of it but as at now, this is what we have. So please, we need a Committee of seven to handle this matter and report to the House.
Mr Speaker 11:51 a.m.
Hon Members, we are trying as much as possible to get civil society and Ghanaians to participate in the work of the House. These petitions were directed to the Speaker and I had to guide them to know that per our Standing Orders, you do not petition the Speaker. The petition is to the House through a Member of Parliament (MP) and that was done.
I went through the petitions, the Standing Orders, our laws and Constitution and I saw that the only way I could handle this was to bring it to the House to take the decision. I cannot use my discretion to refuse to admit them for the consideration of the House. They are petitions to the House and I only have to admit them. By our Standing Orders, when they are so admitted, either by laying, as has been done or through a Motion
which would have to be seconded, the Clerk would then have to read through. However, he opted for the first one for us to just lay it.
After that, it is before the House and it cannot just remain at the Table. The House would have to consider and that is why there is the need for a special committee or Ad hoc Committee to handle it. However, if the House decides that because of the subject matter, you would refer it to a subject matter committee to handle it and report to the House, so be it.
That is why I am guiding the House for us to carve out the procedure on how to handle it. I heard the Hon Majority Leader on air but as I have just explained, I strongly and vehemently disagree with the position he held and I think that this is the way we should go. The new Standing Orders would take care of some of these challenges but as at now, the House would have to put this matter before a committee. I have given proposals for us to establish a committee of seven, which means a ratio of 4:3. We would consider it.
Hon Minority Chief Whip, looking at the nature of the matter, it is not something that we can give a timeline but something that we should give enough opportunity because the petitioners and other people would
have to appear before the committee and then the committee would now report to the House. That is from my reading of the practice in other Parliaments. That is how it is handled.
Alhaji Muntaka 11:51 a.m.
Mr Speaker, maybe, I was not understood or maybe, I did not put my request clearly. I am talking about the timeline for this House to set up the committee so that it does not linger forever. Could that directive be given, so that this House would have a limited time to set the committee for them to start working? Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:51 a.m.
Leadership, how long do you need to be able to set up the committee?
Mr Avedzi 11:51 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with the view that we have a lot of work to do to ensure that we pass the Appropriation Bill before the end of the month, I propose that that House sets up the committee before the House goes on recess. This would enable the committee to start its work during recess.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:51 a.m.
Majority Bench, there is a proposal, what do you say to that?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:51 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I just entered and have listened to you during the brief period that I have been here. You have related to some discussions I had with you outside the Chamber and you said that you disagree with the position that I took.
I must also register that I disagree with the position that you want to take because I believe that this is sub judice and that is my position. You have made a statement to the effect that it must be referred to a committee to make some proposals so perhaps, we would leave it at that but I disagree with the position that you have taken.
Mr Speaker, I agree on that score
-- 11:51 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:51 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader, what I have done is to admit the petition. Can you quote any Standing Order that says Mr Speaker cannot admit a petition of this nature, then we move on? When you disagree with Mr Speaker, you know the right thing to do.
I do not want to assume powers I do not have. By the reading of the Standing Orders and the 1992 Constitution, I do not have the power to disallow petitions just because I have the discretion to admit or not to admit.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with respect, the issue about Petitions is about the performance of our representational and oversight responsibilities. Question time, is representational oversight - you have the charge to admit Questions or not. Is that not the case? So, to say that there is no expressed provision so that cannot be done -- that is why I said that I disagree with you. I would not challenge the procedure -- if I want to challenge it, I know what to do.
I only want to express the opinion that I also disagree with you and I do so strongly. As to whether I would move on to challenge the decision, I know what to do, if I have to challenge it but for now I do not challenge it. I only disagree with you and I have every right to disagree with you.
Mr Speaker, having said so --
Mr Speaker 12:01 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, please, Question time are Questions to Hon Ministers of State and they are Executives and members of Government. Petitions are not necessarily directed against Government or members of Government but they are concerns raised by citizens or group of citizens on issues that they feel they must get some relief on and one of the sources is to go through their Hon Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House. That is why on the issue of Questions there are rules that guide the Rt Hon Speaker as to how he should exercise his discretion to admit or not to admit a Question.
When the Rt Hon Speaker admits a Question, the House is only guided by the same rules to object or not to object it. However, it is not the same with regard to Petitions -- it is not just oversight because it goes beyond that. A Petition does not necessarily mean oversight over the Executive -- it could be handling some issue at a societal level and not Government. You are entitled to petition to the House.
They are different things all together but you are entitled to disagree with me. You are entitled to come by a Motion and the House would debate it and the decision of the House is what the Rt Hon Speaker would go by.
I am not an Hon MP and I do not participate in the decision. I am to guide the proceedings of the House and make sure that there is law and order. So, please, you can continue.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, first of all, to establish that Question time is not meant for the Executive alone -- it could even go to the Hon MPs. Questions could be asked of Hon MPs so it is not limited to the Executive alone.
Mr Speaker, the import of a Question -- if I should read 12:01 p.m.
“Question except in respect of the Question time or period --
Mr Speaker 12:01 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, we are dealing with Petitions and not a Question, so let us deal with the Petitions, please.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with respect if you have patience to listen to me. I said that the import is the same.
Mr Speaker 12:01 p.m.
We have a lot of Business to transact. The question before us is for Leadership to establish the Committee before the House adjourns sine die and for the Committee to go into the matter during the recess. That is what is before the House now.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Petition is being moved by a Motion -- [Interruption] -- that was what I heard him say.
Mr Speaker 12:01 p.m.
I never said that. I never said the Petition is moved by a Motion. It is because you came into the House late. That is not the situation so please, let us climb this issue and continue.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I said that baring a Petition into the House now that it would be done by an Hon Member, it would come by the vehicle of a Motion and the import of a Motion -- that was why I equated the import to that of a Question that if we go beyond that, it would come by a Question.
“A Motion means a proposal made by a Member that Parliament or a Committee thereof do something, order something to be done or express an opinion concerning some matter''.
“A Question, except in respect to question time or period or a question of privilege means a proposal presented to Parliament or a Committee

thereof by the Speaker or Chairman for the consideration and decision or disposal in some matter''.

Mr Speaker, it is the reason I said that the import is about the --
Mr Speaker 12:01 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, I agree with you but when we get there -- we have not reached there yet.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I was looking at the effect and that was why I said that I disagree with the process. You would remember that this is not the first time we have encountered this. We run into a hurdle and it was because of this, that a former Rt Hon Speaker, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, suggested that we should define the appropriate rules in the handling of Petitions.
That is contained in the new Standing Orders and unfortunately, we have not adopted same yet and that is my difficulty but I do not want to litigate the fact that a Committee should be established to deal with it.
The Hon Deputy Minority Leader has given an indication that we should
form the Committee between now and the time when we adjourn sine die. Perhaps, we could explore that and it would be for the Committee to make their own observations and conclusions to the House and then the House would make a firm determination on that. However, that is not to prevent me from registering my strong point that this is a sub judice.
Mr Speaker 12:01 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, what I am doing is under Order 6. I drew the House's attention to all what you stated but Order 6 is clear.
“In all cases not provided for in these rules Mr Speaker shall make provisions as he deems fit''.
I informed the House and I repeated it a number of times that the new Standing Orders would explain further and clarify these rules but as at now we have a Petition pending and we cannot wait until the new Standing Orders are passed. It has been on for some time so we are providing for the rules and filling in the gaps. The committee would be the committee of the House and not one Side of the House and that is why we said it
would be a committee of seven members -- a ratio of 4:3 and then you would report to the House.
Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu 12:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, Order 6 gives you the authority to make provisions as you deem fit but I want to suggest that it would be helpful if what you deem fit is stated so that we could refer to and be guided by it.
In the circumstance, I would want to suggest that since what is contained in the new Standing Orders which has not been adopted is actually negotiated and agreed by the House even though not adopted, we direct that it deems fit that the House uses those provisions to consider the petitions as they are before you.
Mr Speaker, that is my suggestion to you.
Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka 12:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I was hoping that our Hon Colleagues from the Majority side especially, the Majority Leader would speak to the time that the committee would be set up. However, I realised that they kept
adding on and with the new suggestion by the Hon First Deputy Speaker, -- I would like to draw his attention to it that we have gone past that stage.
Mr Speaker, this is because you have already used Standing Order 6 to make a directive. This back and forth would not help us and so, we should rather proceed with what is before us. Like I was saying in our conversation, if the Hon Member is seated up there as the First Deputy Speaker, he could have used Standing Order 6 to rule that we use the new Standing Order but he is not the one seated there. The one seated there has already ordered for a committee to be formed --
Mr Speaker 12:11 p.m.
Hon Minority Chief Whip, Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu, is entitled as an Hon Member of Parliament to draw my attention to it and to propose it. So, please --?
Alhaji Muntaka 12:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not disputing that. I am only saying that we have gone past that stage because you have already given a directive and asked that we form a committee and we are considering the time for its formation and so, what we are looking at, is what is currently before us. So, let us deal with that and move on.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, first of all, I made the point abundantly clear after disagreeing with the process that I go along with the Hon Deputy Minority Leader's proposal and perhaps, the Hon Chief Whip of the Minority was not listening. The Hon Member, should not leave this House but stay here with us.
Mr Speaker 12:11 p.m.
Why? Are you now engaging in a conversation or you are still addressing the Speaker?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am saying that I agree with the proposal from the Hon Deputy Minority Leader that we should recline and constitute the committee. The proposal on the constitution of the
committee should be submitted to the House; I do not know whether it will be tomorrow or if maybe, it could even come later in the day, whatever it is, that Committee must be established before we adjourn sine die.
[Interruption] --
Mr Speaker, I will leave it, I am not saying that I have left it. I said, I will leave it. Save to say that if we are not careful, this House will be inundated by petitions from left, right and centre -- [Interruption] -- If the Speaker is declaring that his hands are tied and he has no role in the admissibility of petitions and that the Speakership is only a conveyor belt, that is dangerous.
Mr Speaker 12:11 p.m.
Hon Members, the Speaker has a very open mind and heart. He started from the backbench, he was a member referred to as a backbencher, became Chairman on many occasions, became Minority Leader for eight years and used to debate on the perspectives of the Minority. The Speaker also became Majority Leader and also debated from the perspectives of a Majority Leader, became a Deputy Speaker and
understudied before becoming a Speaker.
So, the Speaker is definitely not the bias, prejudiced or exercise a discretion that in his own opinion, he has not got. So, I considered all this and I saw that it is not just a conduit, I will be happier if we are inundated with petitions. The good people of Ghana will be participating in our activities; now we are in participatory governance -- [Hear!] [Hear!] -- and we are now running a participatory governance nor are we running away from our duties and be prepared because that is what this House is all about, that is, we are open, we are accessible, people can make inputs in what we are doing and not doing Business in the dark and at the end of the day, that will assist the people to be able to put some value not only on what we do but on the Hon Members of Parliament as they will see benefits from the Hon Members.
So, it is good for the House. Let petitions come and let us iron out the process and handle them well for the good people of Ghana. Please, we expect that before we rise, the committee will be in place and I direct
that the Committee sits during the recess and report to the House at our Second Meeting. I so direct.
Item numbered 5(b)? By the same Hon Member for Bawku Central; Hon Mahama Ayariga.
PETITIONS 12:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker 12:11 p.m.
Hon Members, the Petition is laid accordingly and referred to the committee that will be constituted by the Leadership before we adjourn. And that committee will consider both Petitions and report to the House in our next Meeting.
Thank you Hon Members, at least, today has been a learning process. Should we now move to Motions? That was the guidance I got from the Majority Side.
Yes, Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
Mr Afenyo-Markin 12:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I heard you say that Leadership should constitute a committee for the purposes of looking at the petitions that have --
Mr Speaker 12:11 p.m.
Hon Member, I am not prepared to go back and repeat all that.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 12:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not taking you back.
Mr Speaker 12:11 p.m.
You were not around when we discussed this issue, you cannot come and take us back.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 12:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, I am not taking you back. I followed --
Mr Speaker 12:21 p.m.
Hon Members, we would move to Motion numbered 9 -- Hon Minister for Railways Development?
Hon Minister for Railways Development, you are not standing in your place. You are currently standing in the place of Hon Abena Osei- Asare and we have challenges with that so please speak from your seat.
Hon Majority Leader!
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes, I hear you.
Mr Speaker 12:21 p.m.
Your powers have not reached that.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I agree with you --
Mr Speaker 12:21 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, resume your seat.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:21 p.m.
I will, but I want you to take this on board. Do not relax the rules.
Mr Speaker 12:21 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, the business of the Government is led by you in this House. You do not lead Parliament, you lead the business of the House; you lead the Majority and you lead Government business. As to the role of the Speaker, you have not reached there yet. When you get there, you will do so. [Laughter]
Please, you have been my very good friend for all these years until I became Speaker and everybody in Ghana is doubting whether you were really my friend. I received a lot of calls about that and I said that you are my friend and you are still my friend, but people are doubting it. Please, do not give credence to that doubt.
Hon Minister, you may move the Motion?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, I have not been your friend until you became the Speaker. You and I know that we are still friends, but we agree to disagree. Mr Speaker, with respect, Hon
Majority Leaders do not only act as Hon Leaders of the Majority caucus and Hon Leaders of Government Business when their parties are in power, but an Hon Majority Leader is a Leader of the House.
Mr Speaker 12:21 p.m.
I stated that.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:21 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Mr Speaker 12:21 p.m.
But you are not the Leader of the Speaker.

The mode in which you disagree is what is giving credence to whether you are still my friend. It looks like you are now my former friend because I always hear you on air disagreeing with me so vehemently that people are doubting whether you are really my friend. I am just drawing your attention and if you want to continue being my friend then you know the proper thing to do.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, is it me being your friend or you wanting to be my friend? It is mutual.
Mr Speaker 12:21 p.m.
You have to be my friend and not me being your friend.

At least, I have a position in Ghana; I am number three. What is your number?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, your number three is not in Government.
Mr Speaker 12:21 p.m.
I did not say in Government. I said in the country.
What is your position in the country?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my position is a versatile utility player which may have more significance than a --
Mr Speaker 12:21 p.m.
What is your number? We are waiting.

Hon Minister for Railways Development, kindly move the Motion.

Hon First Deputy Speaker to take the Chair.

ANNUAL ESTIMATES, 2021
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS 12:21 p.m.
DEVELOPMENT 12:21 p.m.
Minister for Railways Development (Mr John Peter Amewu) 12:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢512,575,692 for the services of the Ministry of Railways Development for the year ending 31st December,
2021.
Mr Speaker, the breakdown of this amount is placed under compensa- tion, goods and services, and capital expenditure. The railways sector continues to be a high priority area of Government under the leadership of His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. To this end, the 2021 Budget for the Ministry of Railways Development would be applied to activities towards the revitalisation and modernisation of Ghana's railway system to facilitate the efficient and effective movement of both cargo and passengers.
Mr Speaker, the focus of the Ministry's 2021 Budget would therefore be utilised for the implementation of a number of key projects so permit me to mention a few of these projects. First would be the continuation of the ongoing
development of the western railway line on standard gauge. Secondly, continuation of the construction of works for the standard gauge railway line from Tema to Mpakadan. The third is the continuation of the procurement process for the development of the eastern line from the Accra-Tema-Kumasi through the Boankra integrated logistical terminal. Finally and not the least, is the maintenance of the operational sections of the narrow gauge railway network for the haulage of manganese from Nsuta mines to the Port of Takoradi and to also ensure the provision of efficient passenger rail services on the western and eastern lines.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this august House approves the Ministry's Budget Estimate of GH¢512,575,692 for the 2021 fiscal year.

Question proposed.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Kennedy Nyarko Osei) 12:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion, and in doing so present the Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Further to the presentation of the 2021 Budget Statement and the
Economic Policy of the Government for the 2021 financial year to Parliament on Friday, 12th March, 2021 in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Railways Development was referred to the Committee on Roads and Transport for consideration and report pursuant to Orders 140(4) and 189 of the Standing Orders of the House.
1.2 The Committee on Saturday, 20th March, 2021 met with the Minister for Railways Development, Mr John-Peter Amewu together with officials of the Ministry and Heads of Agencies under the Ministry to discuss the Estimates. In attendance were officers from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to assist in the deliberations. The Committee is grateful to the officials for their attendance and for providing clarifications on issues raised at the meeting.
1.4 The programme-based Budget for 2021 covers the Ministry of Railways Development and the following Agencies:
(i) Ghana Railways Development Authority (GRDA); and
(ii)Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL).
Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza (NDC -- Adaklu) 12:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to speak in support of the Motion moved by the Hon Minister and seconded by the Hon Chairman of the Committee.
Mr Speaker, the Committee noted that in 2020, the Ministry was allocated just GH¢435 million but the Ministry actually spent nearly GH¢700 million. It means they overspent their budget. However, if you look into the details, it is actually positive for the State. What it meant was that, with the project being undertaken by the Ministry, some of the developers were able to deliver more than what was initially anticipated. So although you would see that they have overspent their budget by GH¢262 million, it is actually not a negative development but a positive one. This is because these are donor money's, and the quicker you can disburse, the earlier you can derive the benefits of those investments and the better. This has been noted.
Mr Speaker, my chairman spoke of a few things. I would like to limit my contribution to a few things. First of all, if you look at what Government has been doing over the years, it appears we are building railways like the way we build roads, but sadly, that would not work. If we were to attempt to build a road from Tema Motorway Roundabout to Keta, you can do the first 17kms and drivers would be happy to drive on the good 17kms and ply the rest which is bad, but with railway, you have to build it end to end. You cannot build halfway and leave it. So there is the need for the Government to actually look at the railway masterplan carefully and see what we can do to derive the best benefit quicker.

Mr Speaker, if we take the Tema- Mpakadan project, we are going to end at Mpakadan. The question is, if the goods move from Tema to Mpakadan, what are we going to do with the goods there? So there has to be an urgent plan to either build the terminal there or to go back and see what we can do with the river and take them on the back to Yapei or Buipe or actually start constructing the railway all the way to Paga. That is not any programme currently, so perhaps by the end of this year or next

year, we might complete the Tema- Mpakadan railway but it would be of no use in terms of what we intend to do.

So, Mr Speaker, the new Minister must continue with what we started and I hope we can help him to continue.

Mr Speaker, the next thing I would want to talk about is the project they are embarking on. Indeed, in this House, we passed an agreement for the EPC contract with Amandi - €500 million. They are supposed to start work any moment from now.

Mr Speaker, on page 4, there is also additionally, an EPC contract of US$48 million with a company called Measures - David Walter. We are told that David Walter is a Ghanaian company. The funding is coming from Government of Ghana so it is appropriate to do an EPC contract with them without coming to Parliament. But Mr Speaker, take a look at the next one. EPC contract of US$93 million with the same David Walter.

That is not a contract and a government that even had a Minister of Procurement, I am surprised that they keep making these mistakes. What we have here is not a contract.

If somebody produces a term sheet, which is still lying at the Ministry of Finance, why has it been put here as a contract? They do not have a contract with David Walter to build a railway. It is just a term sheet. So this Government must pay attention to this. Contracts have critical ingredients. They do not have the ingredients to form a contract on this particular project yet.

Mr Speaker, there is also something that we need to pay attention to. It appears Government has signed too many MOUs with entities that claimed they have billions of dollars to build railways and none of them is showing up to do the BOT that we are talking about. Mr Speaker, everywhere in the world, the most successful railway network are funded by the state which is the owner of the track and one can only lease that to operators. So when a section is leased to someone, then he brings his rolling stock and operates it for a period of time, pay dividends to government and then go off.

Mr Speaker, we cannot expect that a BOT operator in this country would bring US$5 billion to build a railway line to get his money back when? In 100 years? It is not that easy. So we are encouraging Government. They would need to do the necessary investments in a short term to be able
Mr Alex T. Djornobuah (NPP -- Sefwi Akontombra) 12:41 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion ably moved by the Minister of Railways Development.
Mr Speaker, in doing so, I would want to urge both Sides of the House to approve the budgetary allocation of GH¢512,575, 692 to the Ministry of Railways Development to enable the Ministry carry out its activities.
Mr Speaker, we cannot develop as a nation without placing more emphasis on the railway sector. If we
look at the past governments, much attention was not given to the railway sector until 2007 when the then President, President Kufuor started some allocation to the Ministry of Railways through the Ministry of Transport.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Railways Development has chalked a lot of success from 2017 to 2020 as my Hon Colleague, the Ranking Member said. The allocation to the Ministry was overspent by 160 per cent due to the fact that the President is more serious in developing the railway sector.
Mr Speaker, if we want to ease the burden on our roads, then it means that we have to find sources of funding for the railway sector. As the Ranking Member said, we cannot develop the railway to a certain portion which we cannot use. So at the end of the day, it is a burden on Ghana and as a nation, we have to look at how we can get the resources to develop the railway sector.
Mr Speaker, in the 90s when we used to visit our parents at Sefwi Asafo, on our way, if we reached Awaso, we could see that one would be standing on a railway line stopping vehicles that passed by and we could see that rails carried the cocoa and
timbers from the Western North to Takoradi port. But today, as we ply Dunkwa to Awaso road, there is a lot of heavy trucks plying our road and this is actually one of the areas that we need to look at. I believe that if much attention is given to the railway sector, our roads and the traffic situation in our urban areas would ease.
Mr Speaker, yesterday, you admitted two Statements from Hon Members about the congestion and traffic situation in our urban areas. I believe that as a nation, if we are able to develop our railway lines, the traffic situation on our roads and the expenditure in the road sector would ease.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Edward A. Bawa (NDC -- Bongo) 12:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to also contribute to the Motion that this House approves a sum of GH¢512,575,692 for the Ministry of Railways Development.
Mr Speaker, just as my other Colleagues said, if we look at a capital intensive sector like the railway, a total amount of just about GH¢500 million is something that definitely would not even make us move an inch in terms of our whole strategy of ensuring that we offload
Mr Edward A. Bawa (NDC -- Bongo) 12:51 p.m.
our haulage, particularly into the railway sector. This is because the statistics suggests that about 90 per cent of our haulage is by road. That clearly tells us that issues of threats towards the lifespan of our roads is at stake -- risk of accident, traffic jam, and so on. So when we have such a dedicated amount of GH¢500 million, it tells us that as a country, if we are very serious, we should begin looking at other ways of ensuring that we have investments in that sector.
I believe that it is for that reason that the President found it necessary to carve out the Ministry of Railways Development from the Ministry of Transport for special attention. So this allocation, to me, is a contradiction to the intention of the President. But that being said, it is also important that we look at how we can get the private sector to support in this area; particularly in the mining area. Is it possible that even the mining companies could be allowed to engage in either rehabilitation or construction of these railways?

This is because they need the railways for haulage. Indeed, I think last year or last two years, as a Member of the Committee on Mines and Energy, we visited Tarkwa and

the Ghana Manganese Company. They indicated to us that it cost them US$7.00 per tonne to cart their product, if they use the road. But it will cost them US$5.00 per tonne to use the railways. It gives a very clear indication that even in terms of the cost of doing business, it tends to help companies that are involved and need to use the railways.

So, is it possible that we can get such companies to really find a way, in terms of the PPP, to invest in that and that could be deducted in terms of a tax? The amount of money they have to pay can be tax deductible, such that we would have more sources of trying to see how we can develop it.

Mr Speaker, it is also important that as the new Minister goes to that Ministry -- there was the incident of Ghana Manganese Company (GMC) donating about US$10million to rehabilitate the Nsuta-Takoradi portion of the Western Railway Lines. As at last year when we got there, nothing had been done. This was a donation from the company to the Ministry to develop that stretch. US$10million is not chicken feed and we expected that -- I remember we called on the Hon Minister to give us response but that never came. It was to find out what that money was used for?

Mr Speaker, it is important that ministries are careful. Moneys that are meant for capital intensive programmes like this, we do not reduce them to recurrent expenditure: payment of salaries and using it for transportation. It is an area I think that the Hon Minister should begin to look into and maybe, we should still investigate it. It discourages people who really want to help the Government execute its agenda.

Mr Speaker, the last thing I would want to talk about is the financial performance of the Ministry from January to December, 2020. I realised that under CAPEX, development partners. The amount that was approved by Parliament was GH¢308,809,800.00, but I saw that in terms of the releases, it was GH¢575,658,315.40. It means that in terms of releases, we had over 86.41 per cent.

There are two questions: It is possible that maybe, there was more work done than anticipated and can be a positive thing particularly in a sector that is suffering for money. But is it also in terms of how good governance works? Is it possible that this particular figure, the amount that was approved by Parliament and the expenditure, was it not necessary for the Ministry to come back to

Parliament and say that the amount of money allocated and approved, they intend to overspend it? It is something that as a House, we must begin to look into in terms of our supervisory role over the Executive.

Mr Speaker, I do not for a moment want to believe that it was used for something not good. It is possible that the amount was used for example, if the contractor worked faster than anticipated, maybe, they would need more money to pay the contractor and that is a good thing. But that must be done for the purposes of checks and balances. It should be brought back to Parliament and that will help us going forward. I think that as Parliament, we must begin to be a bit critical of some of these things such that we cannot have the Executive just ran the way they want or else, to a large extent, issues of transparency and accountability may not be properly served.

Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:51 p.m.
Yes, Dr Marfo?
Dr Emmanuel Marfo (NPP -- Oforikrom) 12:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity. I am more than excited to support the Motion to approve the indicated amount in
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:51 p.m.
Very well, Leadership?
Mr Emmanuel Bedzrah (NDC -- Ho West) 1:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
I also rise to support the Motion for the approval of the Budget of the Ministry of Railways Development.
Mr Speaker, I have noticed that your Committee has made some observations and the Minister for Railways Development should take note and take steps to ensure that those observations are taken care of in his new Ministry.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Colleague has spoken about the first one which is on staffing.
If we are developing the railway industry and all we have now is 92 workers, which means that five per cent falls under the age bracket of between 31 and 40 years, then it
means that 95 per cent of the staff are above 41 years. If we have that human resource in that industry, it clearly shows that the industry is dying down because people with expertise and experience will no longer be there in the next few years to support the industry. So, I would want to urge the Hon Minister to take it up as a matter of urgency to support the development of human resources in that sector.
Mr Speaker, having said that, I have also noticed that the Railway Development Authority, in collaboration with the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) have put some programmes in place. These programmes have to do with training people for managerial level positions. This is such that after one's first degree, one could start working at the managerial level.
The question I ask is that, if we take railway as an industry, we have the middle level manpower, who are the technicians and who are those training these technicians to work on our locomotives or our engines, and the railway lines itself? These are things that I expect the new Hon Minister would take on board, and make sure that it is not only the upper level
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:01 p.m.
Yes, Majority Leadership?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 1:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would yield to the sector Minister, who has indicated that he has some concluding remarks to make.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:01 p.m.
Very well, Hon Minister, you may wind up.
Minister for Railways Development (Mr John-Peter Amewu) 1:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to use this opportunity to first of all thank the Hon Members of the Committee, the Hon Chairman of the Committee and the Hon Ranking
Member of the Committee for the good work they have done in putting this report together for consideration by this august House.
Mr Speaker, the railway industry as said by earlier speakers, is the medium that can trigger the necessary growth that this country deserves. It is on records that the expenditure undertaken within the last four years by H. E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo within the railway sector is far in excess, if we combine the past two regimes, right down from H. E. former President John Agyekum Kufour and H. E. former President John Mahama's regime. The 16 years regime expenditure on railway is far less than what H. E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has done within the four years, and the records are there for everybody to clearly see.
Mr Speaker, I agree with the Hon Ranking Member that to push the railway sector further, we would need to concentrate and do further investment. It is on this note that H. E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo, during his State of the Nation Address mentioned that his attention is going to be on the railway, and he did mention that an amount of about US$2 billion would be used for the
Minister for Railways Development (Mr John-Peter Amewu) 1:11 p.m.
sector. His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo mentioned this, and that this Government would live up to that expectation.
Mr Speaker, there have been several problems and hindrances within the sector as has been enumerated by the earlier speakers. I take notice of them, and I would want to assure the House that we would do what is necessary to correct those errors.
However, with regard to the overpayments, my understanding clearly is that the value of work that was valued and paid for, was far in excess of what was expected during the period. The Rt Hon Speaker mentioned that there would be the need for the Ministry to come to the House to seek for further approval. We take good notice of that, and would do as the House requested.
Mr Speaker, several MoUs of course were signed, and the rationale for some of these MOUs is just to interact with some of these developers. They have not yet migrated into the level of a contract, but just to keep the facts of the issues discussed, that was the reason we had some of these MOUs signed. With regard to the David Walter's Contract, the contract is a precedent contract. There need to be some condition
precedent before the contract itself triggers. So, though the contract has been signed at that level, yet, it has not come to Parliament for approval, and value for money has not been concluded on it, but there was a contract understanding between the Ministry and David Walters Company Ltd. I think that was the reason it reflected in the Report as a contract. It would definitely come to this House for approval.

Mr Speaker, with these few words, I would want to thank the Committee, and hope that going forward, we would work together for the upliftment of the railway sector within this country.

Question put and Motion agreed to.

Resolved:

That this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢512,575,692 for the services of the Ministry of Railways Development for the year ending 31st December,

2021.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 1:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with your leave, we would like to lay the Papers captured in item numbered 6(c)(ii) and 6(d) on pages 3 and 4 of today's Order Paper.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:11 p.m.
Do you mean that the item numbered 6(c)(i) is not ready so we should start from (ii)?
Very well, item numbered 6(c)(ii) -- by the Chairman of the Committee.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 1:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I sought your leave to lay the Papers myself --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:11 p.m.
Very well. Please go ahead.
PAPERS 1:11 p.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:11 p.m.
Item numbered 6(d).
By Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh on behalf of (the Chairman of the Committee) --
Report of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on the
Annual Budget Estimates of the Office of the Special Prosecutor for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 1:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with your kind leave again, we can now take the Motion numbered 10 on page 8 of today's Order Paper.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:11 p.m.
Motion numbered 10 -- by the Minister for Roads and Highways.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES, 2021
MINISTRY OF ROADS AND 1:11 p.m.
HIGHWAYS 1:11 p.m.
Minister for Roads and Highways (Mr Kwasi Amoako- Atta) (MP) 1:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢1,967,771,491 for the services of the Ministry of Roads and Highways for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Speaker, the aforementioned total sum in its breakdown covers three major items 1:11 p.m.
compensation, goods and services, and capex of the Ministry for the year 2021. Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Roads and Highways provides integrated, efficient, cost effective and sustainable
Mr Speaker, the aforementioned total sum in its breakdown covers three major items 1:21 p.m.
road transport system responsive to the needs of the road sector, society and for that matter, the Republic of Ghana.
Mr Speaker, as this honourable House is already aware, the past years and in particular, the year 2020, as was declared “Year of Roads” by His Excellency the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, a lot has been achieved in the road sector as we undertook the construction, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and upgrading of major roads around the country covering all the 16 regions and 260 districts of our country as well as the construction of bridges and unprecedented number of interchanges all taking place simultaneously across the country.
It may also be recalled that during this period, the Pokuase interchange under the Accra Urban Transport Project saw the construction of piers and the four tier interchange which also came with 10 kilometres of selected roads got to a very high percentage of completion. As at the end of 2020, it had reached over 90 per cent considered to be substantial completion of the project, and in about two months from now, the entire project would be inaugurated by His Excellency the President.
Mr Speaker, again, the first phase of the Tema motorway roundabout project, which is also a three tier interchange, came to an end, and it was on schedule. By June, 2021, the first phase which was supposed to last 28 months for the construction period, was met. The second phase, which would involve the building and the construction of the third tier, would begin before the third quarter this year.
Again, phase 1 of the Obetsebi Lamptey Circle interchange also came to an end together with all its ancillary works in November, 2020, and the second phase is in currency as of now. Mr Speaker, the lake road drainage extension projects in Kumasi has achieved almost 70 per cent completion, and is also going on.
In addition, a number of bridges were built across the country; over 1,000 kilometres of asphalt overlay was achieved across the nation, and a lot of the routine and periodic maintenance of our roads were also carried out throughout the year.
Mr Speaker, 2021, as has been declared as the second year of road by His Excellency the President because of the successes chalked last year, would even see a lot of activities
and my Ministry would be more aggressive to ensure that the vision of the President on the road sector comes to fruition.
Mr Speaker, a lot of projects are ongoing, and I would want to mention a few, about three or four of them. Due to the ambitious nature and policy of the President for this year in embarking upon dualisation of all the major roads in our country, the Nsawam-Apedwa stretch, which is part of the Accra-Kumasi dualisation project, is currently ongoing and the Ministry would ensure that within the second term of His Excellency the President, the Accra-Kumasi dualisation would be brought to completion.

Again, Government would ensure that the Bolgatanga - Bawku - Polmakom project, covering a distance of about 109 kilometres would also be brought to completion within the year. Nkwanta - Oti Damongo road would be completed, the Teshie Link road would be completed and the Berekum - Seikwa road would also be completed. The Wa - Walewale road would also be completed among other projects.

Mr Speaker, again, within the year, we are scheduled to bring on board five different interchanges to Kumasi including a four-tier interchange at the Suame Roundabout. Oforikrom and Ahodwo would be brought on board among others. We would also not relent on the rate at which asphaltic overlays are being run on our major roads and as aforementioned, we achieved a little over 1000 kilometres nationwide last year. We intend to do about 1500kms --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:21 p.m.
Hon Minister, please conclude? The Report would be brought by the Committee.
Mr Amoako-Atta 1:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I want to conclude by moving that this Hon House approves the sum of GH¢1,967,771,491 to support the Ministry's programmes and projects for the year ending, 31st December,
2021.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:21 p.m.
Yes, Chairman of the Committee?
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Kennedy Nyarko Osei) 1:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion and in so doing, present the Committee's Report.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Kennedy Nyarko Osei) 1:21 p.m.
financial bid proposed by the Preferred Bidder to the Government. The Project was repackaged and PPA approval was received to single- source the EPC Contractor. The commercial contract (pre- construction contract) was signed and the arrangement for funding of the Project is on-going.
6.8 Accra -- Kumasi Expressway Project (245kms)
6.8.1 MRH is exploring options to reconstruct this section which is a major part of the central corridor in the shortest possible time. Works on the Kwafokrom - Apedwa North Bound carriageway is ongoing under China Water Ltd. with the opening of the Suhum Interchange. The section from Apedwa to Nkwakaw is yet to receive a firm offer from interested developers. An MOU was signed for the Nkwakaw to Konongo section. MRH is also currently reviewing a proposal to reconstruct the Konongo - Ejisu road and Konongo by-pass into a dual carriageway.
6.9 Development of Tema Arterial Roads
6.9.1 Government continued its engagement with the Proponent in the development of the Project which involves an upgrade road network
connecting the Accra - Tema Motorway from the Ashaiman Interchange to the Tema Port. The Proponent submitted the feasibility study which has undergone several technical reviews and negotiations on the scope and cost of the Project. Executive Cabinet Approval was received to enter into a concession agreement with the Proponent after the project scope and financing arrangements were agreed upon. The Parliamentary Select Committee was briefed on the Project details and the Proponent is expected to submit the final feasibility study report.
7.0 Financial Performance of the Road Sector in 2020
The total planned budget for the Road Sector for 2020 from all sources (except Road Fund) was GH¢4,851,415,007. The total amount approved by Appropriation was GH¢2,275,325,664 which constituted 47 per cent of the planned budget. The planned allocation from the Road Fund was GH¢2,581,141,663 of which GH¢1,133,555,449 was approved, representing 44 per cent of the planned amount.
Following the 2020 midyear review of the National Budget, the Road Sector Budget for compensation was increased from GH¢53,049,097 to
GH¢56,171,582. Also, the Capital Expenditure (Assets) was increased from GH¢1,201,000,000 to GH¢1,901,000,000. The total approved budget by Appropriation following the 2020 midyear review became GH¢2,978,448,149 which constituted 61 per cent of the planned budget.
The total Road Fund revenue from January to December, 2020 from the traditional sources amounted to GH¢1.084 billion. During the same period, the Fund expended an amount of GH¢1,232,905,783 (including GH¢238,902,256) for repayment of a loan facility it took.

8.0 Outlook For 2021

8.1 Management and Administration

8.1.1 To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the performance delivery of the sector, 239 technical staff and 334 non-technical staff would be recruited. Furthermore, 76 technical staff and 49 non-technical staff would be replaced. Additionally, 425 technical staff and 135 non- technical staff would be trained in different disciplines.

8.2 Road and Bridge Construction

8.2.1 In 2021 fiscal year, 50kms of trunk roads and 25kms of urban roads would be constructed, and those ongoing would be continued. In addition to that, five (5), 24 and three (3) bridges on the trunk, feeder and urban networks would be constructed. The Ministry will also undertake 15 engineering studies with three (3) on trunk roads, two (2) on feeder roads, and 10 on urban roads.

8.3 Road Rehabilitation and Maintenance

8.3.1 In 2021, the Ministry and its Agencies plan to undertake 12,500kms, 25,000kms and 3,500kms of routine maintenance activities (grading, pothole patching,

shoulder maintenance, vegetation control) on trunk, feeder and urban road networks respectively.

8.3.2 Periodic maintenance activities (spot improvement, re- gravelling, resealing, asphaltic overlay, partial reconstruction, and maintenance of Bridges) on trunk, feeder and urban roads would be undertaken on 23kms, 800kms and 300kms on trunk, feeder, and urban roads respectively.

8.3.3 Minor rehabilitation works would be done on 72kms of trunk roads, 500kms of feeder roads, and 30kms of urban roads.

8.4 Road Safety and Environment

8.4.1 The Ministry and its Agencies would install and maintain 20 and 310 traffic signals respectively. The Ministry will also correct 50 road safety hazard sites. They would construct five (5)kms of walkway and junction improvement on 20 locations.

Overloading of vehicles will also be kept below five (5) per cent of total vehicles weighed at all weighin stations.

8.5 Major Pipeline Projects

8.5.1 The Ministry and its Agencies will commence physical works on the following Major Pipeline Projects in the 2021 fiscal year:

i) Construction of Adidome - Asikuma Junction (39.2kms) and Asutsuare - Aveyime (23.9kms) including 2 no. interchanges at Dufor Adidome and Asikuma Junction.

ii) Construction of a bridge over the Volta River at Volivo.

iii) Rehabilitation of Tatale- Zabzugu-Yendi-Tamale Road (165.8kms);

iv) Rehabilitation of Zabzugu- Nakpali-Bimbila Road (73.6kms);

v) Rehabilitation of Dome - Kitase Road (19.5kms);

vi) Design and construction of Buipe, Yapei, and Daboya Bridges;

vii) Construction of Tema-Aflao Phase 1 Road (17kms);

viii) Construction of Tema Akosombo Road (64.7kms);

ix) Project for Rehabilitation of Assin Praso - Assin Fosu Road (60kms) (N8) - Phase 2;

x) Construction of Tema Motorway Roundabout phase 2;

xi) Supply and installation of bridge components for 50No. steel bridges from the Czech Republic;

xii) Rehabilitation of Kumasi Inner City and Adjacent Street Projects;

xiii) Asphaltic overlay of selected streets in Accra and Tema;

xiv) Rehabilitation and upgrading of selected streets in Tamale and Yendi (Northern Region), Nalerigu, Walewale and Gambaga (North-East Region), and Damango (Savannah Region).

9.0 Budgetary Allocation for the Year 2021

A total disbursable amount of GH¢1,967,771,491.00 has been allocated to the Ministry to execute its planned programmes for Fiscal year 2021. The amount is to be spent on categorised programmes. The breakdown of the total Budgetary Provision is shown in Tables 5, and 6.
Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza (NDC-- Adaklu) 1:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to speak in favour of the Motion moved by the Hon Minister and seconded by the Hon Chairman.
Mr Speaker, I would want to also take the opportunity to commend our colleague, the Hon Minister for remaining diligent to the House in terms of how he attends to Hon Members' concerns about their roads. However, like I have always said, his predicament is always about money. That is why when he keeps mentioning five interchanges in Kumasi and other things and you look at the figures in the Budget, you wonder whether he is talking about this Budget or a future Budget.
The Hon Minister talked about dualisation of certain roads that are coming on. The truth is that they want to do this on public private partnership (PPP) but the developers would have to pay back their moneys with interest. If you say somebody should construct a road between Accra and Kumasi - how many toll booths do we have on the way - and charge GH¢0.50p, how long do we expect him to recover the money? In 100 years?
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister should be upfront with the House. He cannot do this if he does not do anything about accruals to the Road Fund and others. That is not what he is talking about. However, he is making the campaign type of promises which Nigerians call “audio
money”. He is talking about something which is not even in the Budget.
How would he ask somebody to construct a road between Accra and Kumasi and charge toll of GH¢0.50p? It would not happen. The Hon Minister should come to the House and tell us how he would do that and then we would know whether he is being upfront with us.
Mr Speaker, I commend the Hon Minister for respecting article 35 (7), when this House passed a loan agreement in November, 2016 to build the Pokuase Interchange. The Hon Minister respected the 1992 Constitution and we are happy that he is saying that somewhere this year, that project would be completed for the benefit of the people of this country. That is very commendable.
Mr Speaker, I would want to just quickly find out from the Hon Minister; he keeps mentioning a figure of over 1000 kilometres of asphalt overlay. I want to draw his attention to paragraph 831 of the Budget, in line 3, towards the end, it says:
“Under the Urban Roads Asphaltic Overlay programme, 648kms of asphalt overlay works were completed in
2020…”
Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza (NDC-- Adaklu) 1:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, asphaltic overlays were not mentioned in other parts of the Report. Is it the case that this is just for urban roads and that on highways among others, asphalt overlays were done? If that is the case, then we need to be clear about it.

To move on to other points quickly, Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister talked about some bridge programmes. This House approved a loan for 50 bridges we call the “Czech Bridges''. I was led by the former Hon Chairman of the Committee, Mr Ayeh-Paye, to the Czech Republic to do the negotiations and everything and we thought those pre-fabricated bridges would have been installed by now but as I speak, the Hon Minister has not given us any update as to even if one of them has been installed. It is not just the fact that this House approved the loan and the developers have let us down but the Hon Minister should give us an update about that.

Mr Speaker, it is the same problem I have with the Ministry's decision to hang our fortunes on road on Sinohydro that I have always talked about. On Table 3 in the Report, it would be noticed that 50 per cent of the projects that were under the phase

1, has not been started with because the contractor is still mobilising for funds. If these were to be a private sector operator, the contractor called “sinohydro'' has failed and so, he should have been sacked because they did not perform.

All the projects should have been completed by 31st December, 2020 and yet none has been completed. The best result we have is the Tamale Interchange which is about 60 per cent complete. What exactly is the problem of Sinohydro and why they that cannot deliver as quickly as we all expect them to do? Maybe, the Hon Minister could let us know about that.

Mr Speaker, there is a significant issue about the Road Fund. Last year, the Road Fund accrued over GH¢1.8 billion but the Hon Minister for Finance, only gave them about GH¢1 billion. This capping issue has become counterproductive -- because they were given all the GH¢1.8 billion, the Hon Minister would get certificates from contractors but would have to pay a lot of interest on delay payments because their moneys are not given to them.

The Hon Minister would even confirm that they even paid about GH¢2 billion last year from other sources but if we check the details of those payments, a chunk of it is

interest on delay payments. So, this capping issue has become counterproductive -- not every sector needs to be capped necessarily.

Mr Speaker, if I have my way, the road sector should not be capped. They need so much money but they cannot get it, so if they are able to generate this we should allow them to use it. We borrow money from somewhere and pay interest when we have already generated our money. We should enhance the Road Fund to generate about GH¢4 billion. That was why I spoke against the new tax on ESLA. I would have been happy to support this -- if we put 10pesewas extra into the Road Fund because in my projection that would have added another GH¢200 million, which means that we could clock a minimum of GH¢2 billion for the Road Fund and allow them to use it but to say it would be used for sanitation, I would not support that because the road sector needs that money.

Mr Speaker, I would want the Hon Minister to assure this House that they would take steps to have access to the moneys that are due them and the Hon Minister for Finance should understand that the capping of Road Fund is counterproductive because they only create debt in the sector and

by the time they pay, the money would not be used for road works but it would go to the banks for interest that the contractors would take.

Mr Speaker, with regard to the last issue I would talk about, I spoke about that with regard to the railway as well and the Hon Minister said that it was just a contract in lieu of other precedents -- but contracts are contracts. There is a “Memorandum of Understanding'' (MoU) which is accepted and they sometimes called it “contract''. A “contract'' means that it is something that has been agreed between two parties. I said that the Tema Motorway is critical for us to be able to construct. We understood what happened during the PPP process which was cancelled because it was not value for money.

The ministry decided to peg their fortunes with Mota-Engil group where there is no problem about it but Mota- Engil group is a foreign company -- if we refer to article 181 (5) of the 1992 Constitution, what transpired between the Ministry and Mota-Engil was not a valid contract. Maybe, the Ministry is behind the scene and preparing to bring the necessary things to Parliament, which we would support because he already said that he would seek Cabinet approval and come to Parliament. However, if they keep calling it a contract -- Mota-
Mr Alex Tetteh Djornobuah (NPP -- Sefwi Akontombra) 1:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for the opportunity to speak in favour of the Motion.
Mr Speaker, I would want to urge both Sides of the House to approve the budgetary allocation of GH¢1,967,771,491 to the Ministry of Roads and Highways to enable the Ministry carry out its activities.
Mr Speaker, roads form an integral part of our daily activities and as we all know Ghana, is one of the countries that lags behind in infrastructural terms of road construction.
Mr Speaker, in 2020, the President declared a year of road and in the data presented by the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways manifested what the President said.
Mr Speaker, with your permission, I beg to present some of the data presented by the Ministry. In 2015, a total of 220kms of roads were constructed, in 2016, 208kms were constructed, in 2017, 220kms were constructed, in 2018, 442kms were constructed, in 2019, 1,150kms of roads were constructed. In 2020, when the President declared it as a year of roads, a total number of 1,941kms of roads were constructed.
Mr Speaker, I could confidently say that Western North benefited from it. From Sefwi Akontombra to Sefwi Wiawso contractors are working on the 57kms road. From Sefwi Akontombra to Dadeaso, which is about 30kms, contractors are working on the road. From Benkyiman kwanta to Adjoafoa --
Mr Speaker, with the amount that has been allocated to the Ministry -- I support what the Hon Ranking Member said that we need to look at the Ministry's funding sources. If we actually want to ease the traffic situation and do away with a lot of accidents, then we need to dualise our road sector. President Akufo-Addo started the dualisation of the Kumasi- Accra road but it was stopped and I
believe that work has started on it. However, the funding to this particular sector is inadequate as the Hon Ranking Member said.
Mr Speaker, with regard to the issue of road tolls, most of us who have had the opportunity to travel outside the country -- I could say confidently that Ghana is the least country that pays road tolls because in some countries they pay US$1. So, I want to emphasise on what the Hon Ranking Member said that we should do bipartisan and debate on how we would get sources of funding for the roads to enable the Ministry carry out its activities.
Mr Speaker, with these few words, I wish to thank you very much for the opportunity.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:41 p.m.
It is now the turn of the Minority. The Majority side would wait.
Ms Zuweira Lariba Abudu 1:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity given me to contribute to --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:41 p.m.
Hon Member, kindly wait. After the Majority, it goes to the Minority side before it comes back.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:51 p.m.
from the years 2021 to 2024. In other words, it is going to take four years but even so, the road will not be completed.

Mr Speaker, we want the bridge to be completed. The Hon Ranking Member indicated that railway construction is not like road construction where it could be done in phases of 10 kilometres. Mr Speaker, it is same with the construction of bridges; construction when commenced must be completed or construction should not be commenced. How can they use over four years to construct one bridge? When would we have the benefit of the bridge?

Mr Speaker, I would want to urge the attention of the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways to consider reconsidering what the President said on the day the sod was cut, that the bridge would be done in 24 months. So, we want this bridge to be done in 24 months and not 72 months or more. It should be done within the period as promised by His Excellency the President because I am sure he meant business when he said so.

Mr Speaker, lastly, I would want to talk about asphalt and we have heard the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways talk about many kilometres of asphaltic overlay, but we do not know the areas that these would cover. However, I know for sure that Upper West is not one of the areas that would benefit from any asphaltic overlay.

Yes, I know that we have some asphalt on Wa town roads. He mentioned Lawra town roads, but Lawra town roads do not have any asphaltic overlays. So, in the whole of Upper West, we do not have even one kilometre of asphaltic overlay on any of the trunk roads except for Wa township and somewhere else. Mr Speaker, Upper West is part of the country and so if they are providing asphalt --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:51 p.m.
Hon Member, let us return to the Estimate because we have heard enough of -
Mr Ziedeng 1:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, very well.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for indulging me.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:51 p.m.
Hon Member for Walewale?
Ms Lariba Z. Abudu (NPP -- Walewale) 1:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity given me to contribute to the Motion on the Floor.
Mr Speaker, roads form an important part of our lives and I am happy to associate myself with the road that leads from Walewale to Wa because it is a very important road that links three regions. The Wa- Walewale road links to Fumbesi in the Upper East Region, Wa and Kpasenkpe in the North-Eastern Region. So we have three regions that would benefit from this road.
Mr Speaker, I would want to say that every Hon Member in this House needs a road, and I want to commend the President, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo because he has done more roads than any other Government. I say so because since independence, in my Constituency, we have never seen any road being constructed.
However, today, the Walewale Constituency can boast of Nasia general roads which is almost 60 per cent complete, Nasia-Karigu road is 40 per cent complete and the Wa - Walewale road is 70 per cent complete. So, I want to urge the Hon Minister to support and complete
these roads; Janga-Walewale, Janga- Nasia-Karigu road and the Chevoya - Gbani road which is also very important for the people in my Constituency.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:51 p.m.
Hon Isaac Adjei Mensah?
Hon Members, having regard to the state of the business of the House, I direct that the House Sits outside the regular Sitting hours.
Mr Isaac A. Mensah (NDC -- Wassa East) 1:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the Floor.
I would add my voice to the volume of congratulatory messages to the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways for his diligence and good work. Mr Speaker, 2020 was the Year of Roads and 2021 is also touted as the second Year of Roads.
In the Report by your Committee, we realised some commendable indicators and paragraph 6.3 indicates that there are some commencement
Mr Isaac A. Mensah (NDC -- Wassa East) 2:01 p.m.
certificates that have been issued for critical regional roads as well as inter- regional roads.
Mr Speaker, what is lacking is that we do not have clarity because it is about 2,237.5 kilometres. What is the regional distribution of these roads? Are they the same roads as we have? I am told that contracts have already been awarded and it would cost us about GH¢7.839 billion. Mr Speaker, we need to have some clarity and know the regional distribution for these projects since it is over 2,200 kilometres.
We need to know which of these are feeder roads, highways and urban roads. Also, we have to know the likelihood or otherwise of having these roads in existence because on Table 2 of page 6, we have a lot of roads that have been on the drawing board for some time now. Are these part of the roads that cover the 2,237.5 kilometres?
Mr Speaker, it is also worrying that we have some outstanding roads that need to be cleared out of the box. A typical one that I am much concerned about is on Table 2; Bolgatanga -- Bawku -Polmakom road. It is very
appalling because we are still at 31 per cent completion. Would we not complete this road before we take on new roads?
Are these roads still part of the GH¢7.8 billion commencement certificate that has been signed? While we congratulate the Hon Minister for the good work done, we need to know the funding source for these roads because we have signed the contract and the commencement certificates have been issued.
Mr Speaker, we also need to know the timeline because most of the times we have good plans to construct good roads such as the two “Year of Roads”. We have to know the source of funding to assure ourselves so that it would not be normal messages. Mr Speaker, also, page 7 Table 3 indicates that the following ongoing projects are at various stages of completion under the Synohydro master facility.
I am wondering whether a contractor mobilising forms part of completion, because one would see for instance that, on the Accra inner- city roads, the contractor is mobilising and same with the Kumasi inner-city roads and the Tamale Interchange Project is at 60 per cent completion and this is commendable.

In Takoradi, we have the PTC Interchange, and the contractor is mobilising. We are aware the contractor cut sod somewhere last year December, and still, the contractor is mobilising. I think it is high time we put timelines on these projects because if we have all these laudable projects, cut sods for them, and contractors are still mobilising, and we do not have any timelines for that?

Mr Speaker, I still would want to congratulate the Hon Minister for his diligence and efficiency in the Ministry. We need to support him going forward, but these are some of the concerns, relating to clarity and the fact that people would be assured. I overheard my colleague mention what is happening to some specific roads in Wa and other areas.

Mr Speaker, it is important also to note, major pipeline projects as indicated in the Report. We have the Volivo Bridge with funding from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). As far back as 2015, this Volivo Bridge is still sitting in the books as being critical projects in the pipeline. In my view, it is high time we
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:01 p.m.
Leadership?
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 2:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, let me thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion that we approve the amount of money as recommended which is GH¢1,967,771,491 for the programmes of the Ministry of Roads and Highways for the year 2021.
Ms Abudu 2:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes, I think so. It starts from Wulugu - It would definitely pass through Yariba. [Laughter.]
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:01 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, do not invite other Hon Members into your contribution. [Laughter.] -- Please continue with your contribution, but leave her out.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 2:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker that is noted.
However, the Hon Minister should appreciate the passion with which the Hon Member for Walewale spoke. In her corridor there, over the last two decades, not much has been done. Whether it is Walewale, Nalerigu, Gambaga which has now improved
around 2016 and on which some work started in 2015. But from the corner, going through Bunkpurugu to Yunyoo connecting on to Gushegu to Chereponi to Saboba, it is not the best in terms of shape.
Mr Speaker, may I also refer the Hon Minister to some urgent Bridges that must take his attention? Sekyere- Obuasi, Nawuni in the Juanayili in the Northern Region. These bridges need some emergency attention just like Buipe, Yapei and the one linking Daboya to Tolon. I believe I would bring it to the attention of the Hon Minister.
Mr Speaker, the remit of my submission is that we free the Road Fund. And I say so because at the time in 2015, I had the privilege to be on the Economic Management Team. When we were carving the Energy Sector Levies Act of 2015 (Act 899), if you refer to the Table, you would find Road Fund Levy of 40 pesewas per litre of petrol and diesel. The words we used at the time was “to support road maintenance”. Now, with the Road Fund, I still recall at the time, even the then Minister for Roads and Highways had his own view on how to get revenue for the Road Fund. This was done.
Mr Speaker, the understanding then in 2015 was for the Minister for Roads and Highways to use at least,
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 2:11 p.m.
60 per cent to retire and pay for road projects accumulated arrears and generate on new projects of 40 per cent. This was initiated under former President Mahama in 2015; the money has come, now the Minister for Finance is sitting on the money and deciding to give a certain quantum to the Minister for Roads and Highways. This is in breach of his respect for this Road Fund Act of 2015 (Act 899). If we wanted levies for the Minister for Finance, we would have said so, but we said that we dedicate Road Fund Levy to the Road Fund.

Mr Speaker, I am further demanding from the Acting Minister for Finance to come to this House with how much money that has accrued to the Road Fund since 2015 in respect of the 40 per litre on petrol and diesel and its accompanying disbursement. We want to be adequately informed as a House on how much money has been accrued and how much money has been spent. This is because I have been in some Ministries where -- I hope I can share this -- the Government of Ghana -- when I say government, those of the last two decades. We are not promoting the private sector of Ghana, particularly those in the construction industry. Government is

responsible for their premature deaths and government is responsible for those hypertensions many of them are getting and when I say “government”, I am not saying just this government. That was why I said the last two decades. When they go and borrow money from a bank like GH¢20 million then for two years, it is not paid, let us put 20 per cent of GH¢20 million multiplying it by two years and add it on. Yet, a Minister for Finance or Roads and Highways would tell them that they would not pay for accumulated interests. Who must pay for it when they have reneged on the responsibility to pay the contractor?

So, Mr Speaker, we are those killing the contractors softly by the ineptitudes and the lack of speed of payment. I do not think that it is an acceptable thing.

Mr Speaker, I was going to say that the Ministry of Roads and Highways must belong to the school of thought that when there is no budgetary allocation, a project is not started. But I would be unreasonable if I did that. I recall that in 2016, where Hon Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu stood when our Hon Colleague, Alhaji Inussah Fuseini was the Minister for Roads and Transport, his position was that they had awarded contracts exceeding their budget allocation. I heard him here. But what Hon Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu must

understand with the roads sector is that if they allocate a road in Bekwai or Ejisu stretching about 50kms, it may take the contractor more than a year because we do not pay adequately and there are no resources to mobilise early in sight. So even though it is 50kms for a year, it may span two or three years to get it completed.

Mr Speaker, while commending the Minister for Roads and Highways, I would recommend that some of the roads, for instance, Nyankpala- Kumbungu road, about 15kms is motorable; Mbana-Ayirekpachi road is unmotorable. In Tamale South Constituency, Kakpayire and Vitin area roads are undone over the years.

Mr Speaker, there is a relationship between good roads and good livelihood or quality of life. I always tell my constituents that when that road is done, a pregnant woman would get to the hospital faster than is expected of her and I put my position that tomorrow, I can be that person on that stretch who needs to be rushed to the hospital.

So, Mr Speaker, we are strongly recommending to the Acting Minister for Finance to advice the President, that if he truly means that 2021 is also the year of roads, they should de-cap the Road Fund and avail the Road

Fund resources to the Minister for Roads and Highways to retire -- [Interruption] As I listened to the Chairman, he said, GH¢2.1 billion arrears. How is he going to retire the arrears? How is he going to start new projects in the roads sector?

So, Mr Speaker, I have also mentioned those emergency bridges, particularly Nawune. Nawune has a relationship with Kumbungu and it has to do with the volta of the water. They need a bridge. If one is traveling to Tolon from Damango or from Bole or from Sawla, if the bridge is done in the Daboya area, one does not need to travel all the distance to Tamale to turn. So those emergency bridges would also need our attention.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, Hon Agbodza mentioned Public Private Partnership (PPP). The Minister now has the benefit of Public Private Partnership Act of 2020 (Act 1039). We want the initiative for the dualisation of whichever road;Cape Coast, Winneba, Accra or Accra- Tamale. I support dualisation of roads because if we look at the state of accidents in our country, it is largely collision on the road. So if we dualise, we are likely to minimise and reduce collision as an accident symptom or consequence in our country. So let us dualise but let us come within the Public Private Partnership.
Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 2:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minority Leader posed a question and it has to do with the magnitude of the challenge in the roads sector. We must admit that it is huge. We may recollect that when Hon Inussah Fuseini came to this House, he admitted to us that every year, it should be possible for any government to expand the road network by about 4000kms.
It is not possible to do that in practical terms because of the lack of resources. So in the eight years rule of the NDC, they were only able to expand road network from 69000kms to 73900kms. Let us say 74000kms. They increased by just under 4000kms. What it is that has been done under this regime from 73000kms to 78000kms is about 5000kms expansion.
Mr Speaker, if we have to expand further, certainly, what would yield the required dividend for us is the resort to the PPP. Other than that, it is not going to be possible for any regime to do that. President Kufuor was able to expand the network from 39000kms to 69000kms but that one had to do with opening up the
countryside - feeder roads. Some of them existed as tracts and then he was able to grade them and bring them into the national basket. But indeed, if we have to position the country to expand, we need this.
Mr Speaker, I like the PPP regime because we talk of price escalation which at the end of the day, means that we do not have value for the roads that are constructed in this country because we budget to do, let us say, 10kms with about US$10 million; by the time we finish, the price would have escalated to about 30 million because we are not able to pay on time. That is the bane.
If we resort to PPPs, they come with their money and take the risk and do it. In that case, there is little room for price escalation and for corruption.
So, Mr Speaker, I think that should be the way to go. I also agree with my Hon Colleagues who have advocated and supported the Ministry's stance that we should increase road toll.
Admittedly, since 2009, under the late President John Evans Atta-Mills, when the road tolls was increased by 900 per cent from 10 pesewas to GH¢1.00, they have not been increased again. Perhaps, going
forward, we should device a scheme where there will be some automaticity in the increment of road tolls so that they do not have to come to this House to engage us to increase the levels. I agree, as we were told by the experts when we went to Ho that we should look at automation of the toll booths. Mr Speaker, the human factor is also sometime.
Today, we anticipate that if we increase by 400 per cent or 500 per cent, 400 per cent will be GH¢5.00 and that should be able to yield about GH¢4.8 billion. Are we going to get it? That is something that we should look at. We may increase by 400 per cent from GH¢1.00 to GH¢5.00 and we anticipate to get GH¢4.8 billion in addition to what we are supposed to be getting now which is about GH¢1.2 billion to increase it to GH¢6 billion. Will we have the yield if it is not automated?
Mr Speaker, it is something that the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways, together with the Ministry of Finance should look at. We need automation, so that we can have the highest yield when we increase. The Hon Minister for Roads and Highways is the one who comes under scurrilous attacks in this House, because every constituency or every Member of Parliament requires good roads in his or her backyard yet, we are not able to do it.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if you could let the Hon Minority Leader lay the Reports of the Special Budget Committee as captured on page 4 on the Order Paper as items numbered 6 (e) (i) (ii) and (iii) , we would be grateful.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:21 p.m.
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 2:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I can do for items numbered 6 (e) (i) and (iii).
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:21 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, items numbered 6 (e) (i) and (iii)
PAPERS 2:21 p.m.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 6 (p) (i)
By the Chairman of the Committee --
(i) Report of the Special Budget Committee on the Annual Budget Estimates of the National Media Commission for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 6 (m), on page 6 of the Order Paper.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:21 p.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 6 (m)?
Yes, Hon Majority Leader, you are laying the Report. Please proceed.
By the Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) on behalf of (the Chairman of the Committee) --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:31 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, you are to lay the Report, so, please proceed.
By the Hon Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) --
Report of the Committee on Mines and Energy on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Energy for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Speaker, I may want to present these Papers on page 3, the item numbered 6 (a); (i), (ii), and (iii).
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:31 p.m.
Hon Members, we would first take the item numbered 6(a)(i), by the Hon Majority Leader.
By the Hon Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) --
(i) Annual Budget Estimates of the Audit Service for the year
2021.
Referred to the Special Budget Committee.
By the Hon Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) --
(ii) Annual Budget Estimates of Parliament and the Parliamentary Service for the year 2021.
Referred to the Special Budget Committee.
By the Hon Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah- Bonsu) --
(iii) Annual Budget Estimates of the Judiciary and the Judicial Service for the year 2021.
Referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we can move on to the item numbered 11, which is on page 8 of today's Order Paper.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:31 p.m.
Hon Members, we would take the item numbered 11 on page 8 of today's Order Paper - Motion, by the Minister for Transport.
CONSIDERATION OF 2:31 p.m.
Minister for Transport (Mr Kweku Ofori Asiamah) 2:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢657,839,197 for the services of the Ministry of Transport for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Speaker, these amounts comprises Compensation, Goods and Services, and Capital Expenditure (CAPEX)_. The focus of the Ministry is to continue with its existing programmes of the construction of the coastal fish landing sites at various beaches along the coast, to continue the Elmina Fishing Port rehabilitation and expansion project, the expansion of the Kumasi and Takoradi Airports, road safety education and awareness, development of Road Safety Authority Regulations, retraining of National Road Safety Authority and the expansion of DVLA services, particularly, in the new six regions.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this House approves this amount.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Kennedy Nyarko Osei) 2:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion, and in so doing, present your Committee's Report.
I would like to seek your leave to amend paragraph 7, sub paragraph (2), line four. The figure “400” should be amended to read “100”.
Introduction
In accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and Standing Order 140(4) of the Standing Orders of the House, the 2021 Annual Estimates of the Ministry of Transport was referred to the Committee on Roads and Transport.
This followed the presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the Financial Year ending 31st December, 2021, by the Leader of Government and Minister of State responsible for Finance, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah- Bonsu on Friday, 12th March, 2021.
The Hon Minister for Transport, Mr Ofori Asiamah, his two Ag Chief Directors, Mrs Mabel Sagoe and Mrs Christina Edmunds and the Technical Team from the Ministry assisted the Committee with its deliberations. Officers from the Ministry of Finance were also at the meetings to provide clarifications and explanations to the issues raised by the Committee.
Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza (NDC -- Adaklu) 2:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion moved by the Hon Minister and seconded by the Hon Chairman and to make these few points of my own.
Mr Speaker, I would want to commend Government for bringing back the Ministry of Aviation under the Ministry of Transport. I thought Government should have gone further to add Railways Development as well to consolidate it because it is important for the coordination of these things to be done at a central location to enhance work. They have done 50 per cent. Maybe, in the future, they can add railways.
Obviously, the Ministry has got major programmes that they have been doing. I would want to start from aviation. This House has been very proactive, and under the chairmanship of my very good Friend, Hon Ayeh- Paye, we revived few of the laws, legislation around aviation, air navigation et cetera. All these have
enhanced our status as an aviation hub. It is not a fluke that we have been made as the second best airport in Africa. Mr Speaker, it took investment and commitment. Though Hon Ayeh-Paye is not here, I would like it to go on record that he has been part of whatever success we have chalked.
Mr Speaker, the first line on page 6 of 15 of the Report reads, “Replacement of ageing Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) equipment at the Tamale, Ho, and Kumasi Airports”. There is none at Ho yet, so, it is not a replacement; it is a new thing that would be put there. Mr Speaker, Government intends to expand aviation in the country, but we need to be cautious on how we do this.
The Ho Airport is not activated yet. I hear Government wants to go to Cape Coast. That is fine. If we can have an airport in every region, I do not have a problem provided we can fund it. The funding of Terminal 3, Ho Airport, Tamale Airport, and Kumasi Airport which was one of the US$400 million we took on the back of the balance sheet of GACL is still outstanding. So, when we are unable to pay existing debt and we want to
add more, that is Government's decision. We would support them if that is what they want to do.
Mr Speaker, this House passed the agreement for the development of the Integrated Logistic Terminal at Boankra, but that project becomes successful if it is linked with railway. If we move all these goods from Tema or Takoradi and put them on the road, I am not sure the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways would be happy. Thus, we would want to see the building of the railway to be in tandem with the building of the Integrated Logistics Hub so that by the time it is completed, it can be fully utilised.
I heard my Hon Chairman talked about the Ministry of Finance reimbursing DVLA for the printing of road worthy stickers. Mr Speaker, there is a third way. Let us do what the insurance companies do. They do not print those things anymore. By the look of a car's registration plate, they know whether a vehicle is insured or not.
So, instead of spending money printing these things, let us remove the printing completely, do what the insurance companies do, and use technology to enhance that. That whole money we use on printing can be used to do other things. Though it
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:41 p.m.
Hon Member, I do not know which factory you have, but I have them. There are things on my desk now. I
went there and selected. If you come to my office now, their invoice is on my desk.
Mr Agbodza 2:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, just last week, I said I wanted to buy the polo which costs about GH¢60,000, but they told me they did not have one. I am saying that --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:41 p.m.
It is because I have bought the last one.
Mr Agbodza 2:41 p.m.
They brought them to coincide with when Government was making the policy, but now that the campaign is over, VW should show us where the polos are. I would want to buy one this evening. Show me where I can buy one this evening. I will pay for it in cash.
Mr Speaker, I agree with my Hon Chairman very well. The Committee feels that the 30 pesewas that Government wants to take on fuel, personally, I am not entirely against it, but I am against it on principle. When you take money off drivers and put it into something that benefits them, it is reasonable.
Now, if you take 30 pesewas and use some for sanitation and we do not give anything to NRSA, which is an organisation that needs to be enhanced as stated in the Report, I
do not think it is right. I support the Hon Chairman when he said at least, five pesewas of that money should be put into NRSA so they can expand, as required, to deal with the carnage on our roads. Mr Speaker, if that is done, maybe, I would consider supporting --
Mr Speaker, for those who live in villages and do not have Uber and taxis, our saviour is MMT. It provides a very vital service to us in the hinterland. This House has taken loans to buy buses before. The current Hon Minister also added a fleet of 100 buses, and has promised to add another 100. Mr Speaker, they needed buses in excess of 600. The only reason MMT is unable to buy these buses is simply because we have tied their hands, and we expect them to excel.
Mr Speaker, it would surprise you to know that today, when MMT goes to buy fuel for their vehicles and move from maybe, Tema Station to Adentan, when they come back, they cannot even recover the cost of the fuel. If that is what Government needs to do, then Government needs to support them by reducing the taxes they pay on fuel or actually buy the fuel for them. At this rate, the company will surely collapse.
Mr Agbodza 2:51 p.m.
Why do we not do what we did for STC? When we allowed them to charge at least, a fare that would make them meet their running cost, today, STC does not come to this House to get buses. They buy their own buses. We do not know anything about what they are doing in terms of that. It is a viable business today. Why can we not allow MMT to charge a fare that is recoverable?
We are not telling them to become a company that is for profit. At least, they should break even, and if we do that, that would be the day we would see MMT being an enhanced transport company.

Currently, what they are doing is not sustainable and I encourage Government to be bold and come up with a system that would let them recover at least, their cost for them to be able to go to the places that we need them.

Mr Speaker, on the homebased carrier, just yesterday, I had cause to speak to the media about the behaviour of British Airways. They decided that a flight originating from Ghana would no longer go to Heathrow Airport but would go to Gatwick Airport. Not long ago, we

were all flying into Heathrow Airport Terminal 5, the flagship terminal. They then decided to take Ghana to Terminal 3. We complained and the President also had cause to complain about the quality of service British Airways was giving.

We were in a meeting with the former Minister, Madam Cecilia Dapaah and she admonished them. I have had cause to stay on the tarmac from 10.00 p.m. to 2.00 a. m. before because British Airways knew very well that if we were at the gate, they would have to disembark us and put us in a hotel. We stayed in the airplane till 2.00 a.m. when we took off. So, I think that the goodwill between Ghana and British Airways has become one of bad faith today. That is why I am saying that the bringing on board a national carrier is very important because there is only one direct flight from Accra to London.

I encourage Government not to accept what they wanted to do. They told the Government of Ghana that they had stopped but if you attempt booking a flight from Ghana to London after 31st October, you would see what they would do to you. You would automatically be routed to Gatwick, which means that they have implemented that programme with Government's knowledge. That is very bad faith between them and us.

Mr Speaker, this is simply because they enjoy a monopoly. So, I encourage Government to come up with a national carrier. However, they should do this marriage as one of convenience and not with somebody who would turn around and ignore them. I keep warning because of what I am hearing about Egypt. Ghana is a much more stable country than Egypt, so we should be sure that they would remain stable whenever we use them as a hub.

I do not know why we decided to leave Ethiopian Airlines but the negotiators know better. We encourage them to do anything that would bring a national carrier. We need it urgently to be able to enhance our own image and improve business.

Mr Speaker, with these few words, I encourage Hon Colleagues to approve these Estimates to allow the Hon Minister and his team to implement the necessary projects that would enhance transportation in this country.

Thank you for the opportunity.
Mr Kofi Ahenkorah Marfo (NPP -- Achiase) 2:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you. I would want to start by saying that I agree with the Hon Chairman and I support the Motion in full.
Let me move to the development of Integrated Logistics Terminal at Boankra. As the Hon Ranking Member said, it is very important for us to have this particular project. It is a 30-year concession agreement between Shippers Authority and Ashanti Port Services Limited. It has three components and these three components are very important.
The first one is to decongest the Tema Port if Boankra Integrated Terminal comes in to operation. We are talking about decongestion because as we speak, Terminal 3 of Tema Port is in progress and it is working. Unfortunately, the turnaround time is still very high because of the way the terminal is. Also, the expansion of the Takoradi project that is being done by Ibistek Limited is also ongoing. Unfortunately, it is not completed and if it is completed, we would still need the Boankra Port.
Mr Speaker, the second reason for getting the Boankra Port is to facilitate the transit trade system from Ghana to landlocked countries like Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. We need that strategic terminal so that it would also facilitate the movement of goods from Tema Port to landlocked countries. So, it is quite important that if we are getting this 30-year concession agreement, we go with it.
Mr Samuel Atta Mills (NDC - - Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/ Abirem) 3:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much. I beg to support the Motion.
Mr Speaker, I would like to remind the Hon Minister that the Legislative Instrument (L. I.) for the National
Road Safety Authority is needed and needed like yesterday. The road from Accra to Takoradi is one of the high accident prone areas because we have so many issues on this road. Unlike the Accra to Kumasi Road, part of it is dualised and they have passing links. From here to Takoradi, there is no passing link.
On a good day, it can take you five hours from here to Cape Coast. You would struggle through Kasoa and as for Buduburam, I would not talk about it and when they hear the sirens, that is when all the cars come to the middle of the road so that they block you, then you would struggle to Winneba Junction. So, the slightest opportunity that a driver gets, they want to overtake and that is why we have these problems. I am sure the Ministry of Roads and Highways could help us have a passing lane.
After Mankessim, there are so many unnecessary speed ramps and you do not have the chance to overtake. In the evening between 6.30 p.m. and 7.30 p. m., it is hard to see some of those speed ramps which do not have any warning signs there. Some of them have their signs removed either through accidents or other things. So, we need the National Road Safety Commission to be around to help us reduce some of these accidents.
My second issue is about the landing beaches. If you look at page 11 of the Report, on the landing beaches, the one at the bottom which is Elmina has its rate of completion as 0.5 per cent. This is where history helps us. In 1972, we had a President called President Edward Akufo- Addo. He went to this same Elmina with Mr J. H. Mensah and at the castle, they promised them a landing beach which was supposed to be a fishing harbour. That was in 1972.
Then came former President J. J. Rawlings. He also went to the same place and promised Elmina a landing beach. Then we had former President Kufuor who went to the same place and promised us a landing beach. When the late President Atta-Mills came in, he said he would not make any promises he could not keep.

Now, we sent President Akufo- Addo to the same place that his father was in 1972 and he also promised us a landing beach. If we are talking about these landing beaches, I would have preferred to see the Elmina landing beach about 30 or 40 per cent complete but it is 0.5 per cent. The same President came to Cape Coast to promise us an airport --

Mr Speaker, I would support this Motion but at least, when it comes to the Elmina Landing Beach - Elmina is the biggest fishing capital in Ghana, so we need to build the landing beach. If we could remind the Hon Minister that he should try and fulfil what former President Edward Akufo- Addo promised Elmina in 1972.

Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
Mr Asiamah 3:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to thank Hon Members for their contribution, criticism and advice they have given to me and the Government. I would like to assure them that I have taken them into consideration and going forward, we would include them in our implementation plan.
However, I would like to remind the Hon Member for Komenda/ Edina/Eguafo/Abirem, Mr Atta-Mills that he knows that the Elmina Fishing Project is on-going. The records may indicate 0.5 per cent but this record pertains up to December last year but currently he knows that the job that has been done is more than the 0.5 per cent that he talked about.
Mr Speaker, last year, this House approved a loan of €420 million for this project but the Hon Member in his presentation did not say that in those years' loan facilities were
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:01 p.m.
The Hon Second Deputy Speaker, would take the Chair.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, please, I want to lay a Paper numbered 6 (h).
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:01 p.m.
Very well.
PAPERS 3:01 p.m.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the other Reports are not ready and those that are ready, the Committees are still sitting so, it would be difficult to consider them. That being the case, I would plead that we take an adjournment and meet tomorrow.
Mr Bawa 3:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we support the Motion.
ADJOURNMENT 3:01 p.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 3.09 p.m. till Wednesday, 24th March, 2021, at 10.00 a.m.